Today’s focus has been on the league’s plans to force goalies to wear “form fitting”/proportional pads next season. I touched on the rule change on a general level here and then got into the deeper details of just why it’s different (and confusing) in another post.

Each goalie will have his height listed, although it’s important to note that sports teams are often a bit “generous” when listing player heights. Anyway, let’s get to it.

Jaroslav Halak (5-foot-11) As if following up a scorching hot playoff run wasn’t tough enough, the relatively short goalie might see a reduction in his pads. He seemed to be strong positionally (as in, not outrageously athletic), so the difference could hurt him more than most. (Even if, again, it will probably be subtle.)

Henrik Lundqvist (6-0) TGG claims that Lundqvist’s “massive thigh pads” might be one of the biggest reasons why the changes are being made. The Rangers lean very heavily on the Swedish goalie, so if he slips even a bit, their playoff hopes could be very bleak.

Manny Legace (5-9) and Vesa Toskala (5-10) As if those two goalies didn’t have the odds stacked against them already …

Marty Turco (5-11) The good news is that – at least in a previous hockey life – Turco was an athletic goalie. Still, the Blackhawks new goalie is three inches shorter than their departing Cup winner Antti Niemi.

Tim Thomas (5-11) He’s not the most “orthodox” goalie, but age, injuries and the considerably taller Tuukka Rask will make things difficult for Thomas next season.

Chris Osgood (5-10) It’s hard for me to muster up much sympathy for the Leprechaun-like goalie, but you still have to give him serious points for resiliency.

While smaller pads will hurt “positional” or “passive” goalies more than the “athletic” types, most of the guys under six feet tall are likely to suffer. Again, these are educated guesses and the impact might be very subtle, but these rule changes could set an interesting precedent for shrinking equipment for netminders. Are there any other goalies – maybe less obvious examples – that could really suffer from the rule changes? Feel free to share your picks in the comments.

Pads have always been a concern with a goalie. A good then and later on comparison is Patrick Roy.
And while pads are being looked at, how about chest protectors. J.S. Giguere’s has got to be one of the biggest I’ve ever seen!Ya! Tha Habs Rule! also on Twitter!

Pass - Aug 8, 2010 at 7:35 PM

You forgot Théodore, mayby that’s why he’s still at home without a contract??

HOCKEYONLY - Aug 9, 2010 at 1:43 AM

Let’s see, infact NHLPA let’s make a deal….. Let’s go back to NON-curved sticks like when Howe (that’s Gordie) and the boys were ripping the nets and then have the goaltenders go back to pads that go no higher then 4 inches above the knee, they make knee protectors for the goaltenders so they don’t need pads that go up to their chins. smaller blockers, catching gloves, chest and arm protectors, the original crease and I’ll bet scoring will increase and there’ll be MORE backhanded goals scored. If you want excitement then that’s the way to do it.